FY26 Community Arts Grants
Deadline to Apply is March 23
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Applications for the FY26 Community Art Grants Program, which offers two opportunities—general support and project support—will close on Sunday, March 23, 2025.
The General Support Program (GSP) aims to strengthen the community's arts and culture programming access. GSP provides core operating support to arts and cultural organizations of all sizes that primarily aim to create, produce, or provide arts and cultural programming to enhance the quality of life for Phoenix residents. Applicants do not make specific funding requests. Organizations receive award allocations determined by their ranking in the panel.
The Project Support Program (PSP) promotes and encourages the breadth of arts and cultural programming in our community by supporting large and small projects throughout the City of Phoenix—the PSP funds projects for up to $5,000.
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Future Building: “Shades of Resilience: Community Fabrication Workshops”
Saturdays starting March 22-May 20, 7:00-9:00 a.m.
Join project artist AZ(LAND) to be a part of multiple factors of fabrication from adobe brick making, corn husk dying and plastic flower creating for Shades of Resilience, the structure to be installed at Steele Indian School Park.
Steele Indian School Park
300 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85012
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Hand Weaving with Bobby Zokaites
Saturday, March 29, 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Join project artist Bobby Zokaites to learn an heirloom craft and help create a contemporary artwork at Cortez Park. Each woven “petal” will contribute to a Botanical Canopy sculpture that shades the park’s central bridge.
Cortez Park
3434 W Dunlap Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85051
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Reflections on Sunnyslope Artwork Open House
Saturday, April 5, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Join project artist Jessica Arias, and tell us how you enjoy the outdoors and stay safe in the heat! Write a poem, draw a picture, or respond to a prompt with your artwork. Be part of the public artwork Reflections on Sunnyslope, which will come to our park later this spring. Materials will be provided, and all ages are welcome!
Sunnyslope Community Center Lobby
802 E Vogel Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85020
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Celebrate Earth Day at Roesley Park
Tuesday, April 22, 3:00-6:00 p.m.
Join project artists Josie Davis and Jenny Boehme for a DIY Barrel Cactus Seating Design Activity. Bring fabrics or craft supplies you no longer need and give them a new life.
Roesley Park
4205 S 15th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85041
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Rincón de Color
by Jose Benavides & Joe Ray
Saturday, April 19, 2025
11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Join us for a joyful community celebration that brings together art, culture, and connection.
FEATURING:
- Eight giant Alebrijes (Oaxacan folk art creatures)
- hold up a 95% UV-rated canopy for shade
- Solar-powered high-pressure misting
- system to keep you cool
- Live performance & DJ
- Free printmaking workshop
- An exhibition featuring the incredible work of Alhambra High School MEChA students.
- Complimentary food and refreshments
Cielito Park
3402 W Campbell Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85017
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The Burrow
by Josie Davis & Jenny Boehme
Saturday, April 26, 2025
9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Come share the shade as we celebrate this new shade installation inspired by Arizona’s desert tortoise.
FEATURING:
- 20 ft shade canopy inspired by the desert tortoise
- Meet a real desert tortoise from the Phoenix Zoo
- Cast your vote to name the giant tortoise
- Live Music
- Complimentary food and refreshments
Roesley Park
4205 S 15th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85041
| | ¡Sombra! is an innovative public art project that brings together local and national artists, civic leaders, and residents to experiment with cooling and shading solutions in response to Phoenix’s extreme urban heat. Sombra is funded by the Mayor's Public Art Challenge, a Bloomberg Philanthropies initiative that invites mayors, artists, and the community to collaborate on temporary public art projects that shine a light on critical local issues and encourage action to address them. | | |
Call to Artists
Bell Road Public Art Project and Mural List
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The Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture, in partnership with the Street Transportation Department, Neighborhood Services Department, and the Bell Road Business Alliance, seeks to commission a professional artist or artist team to design 6 to 8 site-specific artwork panels. The designs will subsequently be fabricated as 2’-6”W by 6’-0”H laser cut metal banners that will be installed on street light poles along the south side of Bell Road from Black Canyon Freeway (I-17) east to 7th Avenue. The image below shows the project area. The deadline to apply is April 3, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
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City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture seeks qualifications from muralists for the development of a Pre-Qualified Roster. The intention of this Roster is to invite Artists who are interested in working with the City of Phoenix or Arizona residents and businesses for the purpose of commissioning murals. Accepted submissions from artists will be able to create meaningful artworks that can be incorporated into a specific site, area, or context both on public or private property. Muralists selected for the Muralist Pre-qualified Artist Roster will be eligible for City-funded projects over the next three years. The Artist Roster will be made publicly available for residents and businesses to utilize at their discretion. Deadline to apply is April 30, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
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Paradise Valley Park Public Art Project
Community Survey
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Artist Donald Lipski was selected to work with the design team to integrate artwork into Paradise Valley Park to enhance the visitor experience. The artist is requesting community feedback on the proposed project design.
Over the years, I’ve made a number of sculptures that appeared to be trees that have grown into shapes that stretch the limits of nature. These have been largely shown in galleries and museums. I haven’t made any public works along these lines, though my chandeliers—have used the same techniques. Among my all-time favorites is a simple ring, shown below both in a gallery and at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia. Since it could not possibly grow this way, there is something quite magical and elegant about it. For Phoenix, I have imagined this blown up to heroic proportions. -Donald Lipski
Do you think the artwork design serves as a primary focal point for the park? Do you feel it is engaging for park visitors? What elements of the design concept do you like or do not like? How could the design be improved? Answer these questions on the online survey by April 11, 2025.
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Museum After Dark Series
Lecture Featuring City Archaeologist
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Get ready for the next installment of the S'edav Va'aki Museum's Thursday evening programming, Museum After Dark. Join the museum on March 27, 2025, at 6:00 pm for a special lecture featuring our city archaeologist, Chris Schwartz.
This talk will explore the presence of non-local scarlet macaws (Ara macao) at archaeological sites in the U.S. Southwest and Mexican Northwest, specifically at S’edav Va’aki. Although these intelligent and brilliantly plumed birds are native to the humid lowlands of southern and eastern Mexico, Central America, and South America, hundreds have been recovered from archaeological sites throughout the U.S. Southwest and Mexican Northwest. This talk will examine their contexts at archaeological sites, including S’ed̲av Va’aki and other Ancestral O’Odham settlements, and explore their significance to past people and their enduring importance to contemporary Native American communities.
Christopher Schwartz is the city's archaeologist based in Phoenix, AZ. He attended Arizona State University, where he earned B.S., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees in Anthropology, specializing in Archaeology. His academic research examines the social impacts of long-distance exchange and long-term human-animal relationships in pre-Hispanic North America and has been funded by various institutions.
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Calling All Artists, Grades K-12
Deadline to Submit is March 21
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The Phoenix Youth and Education Office is calling all student artists to help celebrate Phoenix History Month. Winning artwork will be shown at an exhibit at Burton Barr Central Library. Prizes will be given to each grade-level winner. All winners will get a chance to see a Phoenix Suns or Mercury game.
Requirements:
- Artwork must be submitted on quality, standard (8½ x 11) white paper.
- Entries can be paintings or drawings in black and white or color.
- A completed entry form must be included with the submission.
- The student's full name, grade, and school must also be written on the back of the artwork.
- Each student must attend a Phoenix school and may submit only one entry.
- Artwork should depict historic people, places, or events from Phoenix history.
- Winning entries from each grade level will have their submissions showcased at a city facility. Prizes will also be awarded (details to be determined).
- Judging will be based on creativity, the effectiveness of conveying the theme, and the artwork’s ability to inspire interest in Phoenix's history
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Grant Opportunities
Arizona Commission on the Arts
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The Arizona Commission on the Arts is now accepting applications for Fiscal Year 2026 grants for arts organizations, arts festivals, and arts engagement programs.
The Creative Youth Grant, created and reviewed by the Arizona Commission on the Arts AZ Youth Arts Council, is a funding opportunity for young artists ages 12 -17. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2025.
Creative Capacity Grants provide general operating support to nonprofit organizations whose primary mission is to produce, present, teach, or serve the arts. The deadline to apply is April 14, 2025.
Festival Grants support the presentation of quality arts and culture programming through festival activities, connecting artists and culture bearers (or their artistic work) with communities. The deadline to apply is April 24, 2025.
Lifelong Arts Engagement Grants support projects that foster meaningful arts learning experiences for adult learners of any age and/or intergenerational projects in community settings. The deadline to apply is April 24, 2025.
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Institute of Museum and Library Services
Action Alert: Contact Your Member of Congress
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On March 14, the Administration issued an Executive Order (EO), Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy, directing further cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). This agency already operates at a minimum level, making up only 0.0046% of the federal budget. IMLS efficiently provides critical resources to libraries and museums in all 50 states and territories. This EO would essentially gut IMLS within seven days. Contact your senators and representatives to urge them to overturn the executive order and protect IMLS funding.
| | The Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture is the city's designated local arts agency. It supports, champions, and promotes the local arts, culture, and educational community to make Phoenix a great place to live, work, and visit. In addition to the department’s flagship programs, the agency oversees and supports the City's Youth and Education Office, Archaeology Office, and the S'edav Va'aki Museum. | | | | |
